Châteauneuf du Pape, Clos des Papes, 2017
A nose of kirsch and liquorice, replicated on the palate with additional flavours of bramble, crème de mure and salt and pepper notes. Rich, smooth, round and layered. A certain power and richness but with some restraint to it. A beauty. The blend is unusually low in Grenache even by Clos des Papes standards, comprising approximately 45% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre and the rest Syrah with a dash of other permitted varieties.
critic reviews
Mixing 45% Mourvèdre with 45% Grenache and the remainder split between Syrah, Counoise, Muscardin and Vaccarèse, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape was cropped at a mere 16 hl/ha. Pronounced black plum, dried herbs, peppery features and gentle cocoa come alive, complemented by a beguiling minty streak. Full-bodied and framed around a firm tannic core, the complex 2017 demands at least five more years to start showing its full potential.
As predicted last year by Paul-Vincent Avril, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 45% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, about 10% Syrah and the rest other permitted varieties. It boasts a cool, fresh nose of strawberries, cola and tree bark, yet it's full-bodied and tannic on the palate. Dense and chewy, albeit with a mouthwatering sense of freshness, this will need a few years to relax and unwind, but it looks very promising.